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Today, it is common practice to use Bereshis, Shemos, Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim as the names of the five books of the Torah, but this was not always the case. As an example, the Talmud refers to them as חומש הפקודים or תורת כהנים. Even Rashi on the first link calls Bamidbar "ספר וידבר".

I was wondering what are the earliest sources we have for the modern names.

Note: this question is related to Names of the books of Tanakh but different, because most of the names (e.g. רות וספר תהלים ואיוב ומשלי קהלת שיר השירים) were already established in the Talmud.

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  • Note that the first Tosfos in Gittin refers to Bamidbar as Vayidaber and Devarim as Mishneh Torah (Chazal’s name for it). As an aside, fixed a typo for you. – DonielF Oct 31 '17 at 17:58
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    In the 4th century CE, Eusebius (reviewing Origen) identified the first three and fifth names close to the current forms, saying: εἶτα μετά τινα ἐπιφέρει λέγων· «εἰσὶν δὲ αἱ εἴκοσι δύο βίβλοι καθ ̓ Ἑβραίους αἵδε· ἡ παρ ̓ ἡμῖν Γένεσις ἐπιγεγραμμένη, παρὰ δ ̓ Ἑβραίοις ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς τῆς βίβλου Βρησιθ [Bresith], ὅπερ ἐστὶν «ἐν ἀρχῇ»· Ἔξοδος, Ουελλεσμωθ [Welle smoth], ὅπερ ἐστὶν «ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα» · Λευιτικόν, Ουϊκρα [Wikra], «καὶ ἐκάλεσεν»· Ἀριθμοί, Αμμεσφεκωδειμ [Ammesfekodeim]· Δευτερονόμιον, Ελλεαδδεβαρειμ [Ellead debareim] – Henry Nov 1 '17 at 9:11
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  • Sefer B'Reshit: the Yerushalmi (Sotah 1:10) already refers to it as Sefer B'reshit. This is also found in the Zohar (Raya Mehemna Vol. II Parashat Mishpatim 119b).
  • Sefer Sh'mot: The Midrash Lekah Tov (11th cent.) has a little rhyme at the end of Parashat Pekudei that refers to Sefer Sh'mot.

More common is "Sefer V'eleh Sh'mot" found in many Midrashim (although I have not seen it in critical editions). E.g. B'reshit Rabba (Vilna) (3:5, 65:8), Shir HaShirim Rabba (Vilna) (4:7), Midrash Tanhuma (Warsaw) Parashat Veyera (1). And in later (but still medieval) sources such as Midrash Aggada (Buber) B'midbar (21:14) and Yalkut Shimoni B'reshit (4). Also Rambam's Hilkhot Sefer Torah (8:7) and Ramban's introduction to Sefer Sh'mot. It is also found in the early Geonic work Seder Tannaim V'ammoraim (2:26).

  • Sefer Vayikra: B'reshit Rabba (ed. Albeck) to Parashat B'reshit (3) refers to it as Sefer Vayikra. Rambam (12th cent.) does as well in Hilkhot Sefer Torah (8:9)
  • Sefer B'midbar: Rashi (11th century) refers to Sefer B'midbar in Sh'mot (28:36) and Yehoshua (17:14). Rashbam (12th cent.) does as well in Bava Batra (124b), as does Rabbenu Hayyim Paltiel (13th cent.) in B'reshit (26:21).

There are also a couple of references to it as Sefer B'midbar Sinai (Rambam's Hilhkot Sefer Torah 8:9), from the 12th century, and Yad Ramah to Sanhedrin (43b) also from the 12th century.

  • Sefer D'varim: R. Hayyim Paltiel (beginning of B'midbar) refers to it as Sefer D'varim. Paneah Razza (14th cent.) has a short rhyme at the end of D'varim that refers to Sefer D'varim.

Slightly more common is referring to it as Sefer "Eleh HaD'varim" (which is still distinct from the more familiar Hazalic name of Mishneh Torah". The term "Sefer Eleh Had'varim" is found in Midrash Tannaim (D'varim 33:1). And in Rambam's Hilkhot Sefer Torah (8:10) and in Ibn Ezra (12th cent.) to (Sh'mot 18:1), and later Rishonim such as Ralbag (Shoftim 10:4).

The earliest singles source that refers to all five that I have found, is R. Hayyim Paltiel (beginning of B'midbar) who writes:

וס"ת של ה' חומשי תורה מים לו, ספר בראשית במצרים, ספר שמות (ל)מסעיהם, ספר ויקרא במדבר סיני, ספר במדבר יריחו, ספר דברים לעיני כל ישראל, מלמד מי שיש בידו מים כלומר שיודע ה' חומשי תורה עיקר התורה שלו ותורה נקראת מים.

While the possibility of scribal emendations before works were printed is possible, from the large number of early sources (not mentioned above were Sh'iltot, Bahag, and later Rashi and Ibn Ezra) that refer to Sefer B'reshit, and the dearth of early sources for the other books (except to a lesser degree Vayikra), it seems that this name is probably very old. Probably even Hazalic.

As indicated above, Sh'mot and and Sefer D'varim seem the latest.

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    Wow, that was a really quick and well researched answer. Thanks! – Nic Oct 31 '17 at 14:19
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    @Nic The power of search engines. Im not pretending I had those sources on my fingertips. You are very welcome. – mevaqesh Oct 31 '17 at 14:20

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